Table plates for machines for treating containers

ABSTRACT

A table plate for a machine for treating containers, particularly a labeling machine, said table plate comprising a carrousel portion where a carrousel can be positioned and pivotally connected to the table plate; said table plate comprising a rotating star-shaped element region where at least one rotating star-shaped element for supplying or discharging containers to or from the carrousel can be arranged and pivotally connected to the table plate; said table plate being formed as a solid and one-piece work piece.

The present invention relates to a machine for treating containers andto table plates for machines for treating containers, particularlylabeling machines.

STATE OF THE ART

Machines for treating containers and also table plates are known fromthe state of the art.

WO 2011/027372 for instance shows a machine for treating containersprovided with a supporting frame with guides to which labeling units candetachably be connected so that they can be placed at specific positionsaround a carrousel.

Further, WO 2011/045819 A1 shows a supporting structure with supplymeans and rotating star-shaped elements that are mounted on a tableplate being arranged thereto as well as a separate support structure forsupporting a carrousel.

PROBLEM

Based on the state of the art it is the problem of the invention toprovide the best effective modular structure for machines for treatingcontainers such as labeling machines allowing for easy assembly andeffective manufacture thereof.

SOLUTION

According to the invention, this problem is solved by means of themachine for treating containers according to independent claim 1 as wellas the table plates according to independent claims 7, 14 and 27.

Any advantageous developments of the invention are included in thedependent claims.

The machine for treating containers according to the invention, e.g. alabeling machine, comprises a portal and a base support with a carrouselfor receiving containers to be treated therein and is characterized inthat the portal has an opening for transporting containers to be treatedto the carrousel, said opening being restricted by a support elementprovided with supports for supporting said portal at the ground, anupper part to which at least a part of said carrousel is mounted, andtwo connecting elements for connecting said support element and saidupper part with one another, said upper part extending from oneconnecting element to the other connecting element. Owing to thepresence of a corresponding portal and a base support, fast and simplemounting of the labeling machine has become possible, on the one hand,with elaborate adjustment steps partly, preferably entirely, beingomitted. Besides, such components can be transported easier.

Furthermore, the portal can be provided with at least one component foroperating the machine for treating containers, preferably a controlcabinet or an electric or a pneumatic component. Thus, a compactstructure of the machine for treating containers could be realized.

According to another embodiment, the machine for treating containers ischaracterized in that said upper part is connected to the carrousel suchthat a torque support of the carrousel is performed by the upper part.Therefore, the torque support function can be done by the portal,particularly the upper part thereof, thus omitting any additionalcomponents.

According to one embodiment, the base support is at least mounted to thesupport element by fastening means. Thus, stabilization of the portaland the base support one below the other could be ensured and theorientation of said units simultaneously enabled.

Furthermore, the base support may comprise support elements for holdingthe base support at the ground. Thus, the base support can be supportedindependently at the ground of a factory hall and, if required, beoriented correspondingly.

Furthermore, an assortment of machines for treating containers may beprovided which is characterized in that the portal dimensions for eachof said assortment container treating machines are indeed identical, thesize of the carrousel may, however, differ from one another.

Such an assortment can be manufactured at distinctly lower costs, andreplacing any faulty portals of machines for treating containers hasthus also become very easy.

The technical problem is further solved by means of a table plate for amachine for treating containers, in particular a labeling machine, saidtable plate comprising a carrousel portion where a carrousel can bepositioned and pivotally connected to the table plate, and said tableplate comprising a rotating star-shaped element region where at leastone rotating star-shaped element for supplying or discharging containersto or from the carrousel can be arranged and pivotally connected to thetable plate, the table plate being formed as a solid and one-pieceworkpiece. Such table plate allows for a simplified mounting ofcarrousels and rotating star-shaped elements which are already orientedwith regard to each other to some extent, if not entirely, by said tableplate.

According to one embodiment, the table plate is characterized in thatsaid table plate comprises a motor region where motors can be arrangedinside and/or outside at the side of the carrousel position of the tableplate. This enables a compact structure including the motors that arerequired to drive rotating star-shaped elements and also the carrousel.

According to yet another embodiment, said motors can be arranged incolumns provided on the table plate. By positioning motors in thecolumns provided, said motors are protected against environmentalinfluences, especially adhesives or any liquids splashing around.

Furthermore, the carrousel and a portal through which containers caneither be supplied to or discharged from the carrousel can be connectedwith one another via the table plate. Such a connection facilitates,preferably even entirely obviates the need for any leveling.

According to one embodiment, the side of the table plates facing awayfrom the carrousel position is provided with elements for guiding andfastening electrical and mechanical systems. This ensures a compactstructure and simultaneously protects the electrical and mechanicalsystems against environmental influences, especially against adhesivesor liquids used in said carrousel.

Furthermore, an assortment of table plates for an assortment of machinesfor treating containers can be provided, wherein the outer dimensions ofthe rotating star-shaped element region for each of said machines fortreating containers among the assortment of machines for treatingcontainers are identical, and a distance of receptacles in a table platefor a rotary wheel or an inlet star and a rotary wheel of an outlet starin said rotating star-shaped element region where the rotatingstar-shaped elements can be pivotally supported for machines fortreating containers among the assortment of machines for treatingcontainers differ from each other. Such an assortment and particularlythe corresponding table plates can be manufactured much easier thantable plates that have to be adapted individually for each machine fortreating containers, thus obtaining a considerably reduction of costsfor the production of table plates.

Moreover, the outer dimensions of the carrousel region of at least twotable plates among the assortment may differ from each other, and aposition in which a main axis of the carrousel can be arranged andpivotally supported in said carrousel portion of at least two tableplates of the assortment can show a different distance from the rotatingstar-shaped element region.

Furthermore, the problem is solved by a table plate for a machine fortreating containers, particularly a labeling machine, which comprises acarrousel, wherein at least said carrousel can be mounted to the tableplate, said table plate comprising, at a side facing away from acarrousel position, a mounting arrangement supported by said table plateand to which treating units can be mounted. This allows for a centralarrangement of e.g. treating units, thus simultaneously supplying a highdegree of stability.

According to one embodiment, the mounting arrangement is composed of atleast two, a first and a second, ring-shaped elements arranged one uponthe other concentrically with regard to a rotation axis of the carrouseland towards the rotation axis of the carrousel, the first ring-shapedelement being connected to the table plate via a connection. Such adesign of the table plate and of the mounting arrangement allows for amore flexible provision of the mounting arrangement in dependency of thetreating units or any other means. Instead of two ring-shaped elementsonly one ring-shaped element may be provided.

The first ring-shaped element may have a larger inner diameter than thesecond ring-shaped element, thus producing an internal groove whichallows for safe mounting of devices.

Furthermore, the first ring-shaped element may have a smaller outerdiameter than the second ring-shaped element. Here, too, safe mountingis ensured and, in combination with the above embodiment, a double-sidedgroove is provided which, in contrast to a simple groove, allows forhigher strength of the connection.

According to another embodiment, the mounting arrangement and the tableplate are integrally formed and made of one workpiece. Such a tableplate with mounting arrangement made of one single piece furtherincreases the strength and reduces any possible mounting faults.

According to yet another embodiment, the mounting arrangement is formedin a C-shape and/or in the form of a groove.

Furthermore, the mounting arrangement may comprise notches convergingtowards the rotation axis of the carrousel in table plate direction,and/or the mounting arrangement may comprise notches diverging from therotation axis in table plate direction. Thus, it has become easier tointroduce devices to be mounted, such as treating units.

To solve this problem, a table plate can be provided for a machine fortreating containers, particularly a labeling machine which comprises acarrousel to be arranged at the table plate, characterized in that thetable plate includes a laminated core material. As it is, thus, notrequired to produce a table plate that is completely made of e.g.stainless steel or another metal this may result in considerable weightsavings and also cost savings with regard to the manufacture, especiallyif plastics are used for lamination.

The core material may include stainless steel or non-stainless steel oraluminum.

According to one embodiment, the lamination is made of or includes aplastic material. This results in weight savings, particularly withregard to a table plate of the same dimensions and fully consisting ofthe core material; at the same time, the plastic material may includecertain additional advantageous properties.

According to yet another embodiment, the table plate is provided with abore designed to mount machine parts, wherein a ring-shaped component isinserted into said bore. Here, the ring-shaped component can protect thelamination of the table plate and, simultaneously, be formed inaccordance with the requirements of the machine part to be mounted. Thering-shaped component may at least partially be made of stainless steel.Stainless steel is used to render the ring-shaped component robust andas unsusceptible against moistening with liquids and, thus, oxidization,as possible.

Further, the table plate may be of such a design that it comprises atleast one or several of the following features: dirt-resistant,color-resistant, flexible, non-sticky and provided with bulges. Theseadditional properties of the plastic coating may be advantageous eitherindividually or in combination which depends on the use intended for thetable plate and may facilitate cleaning thereof.

Further provided is a table plate for a machine for treating containers,particularly a labeling machine which comprises a carrousel to bearranged at the table plate, wherein containers to be treated can eitherbe conveyed to or from to the carrousel by means of rotating star-shapedelements to be arranged at the table plate, characterized in thatcolumns in which motors for driving the rotating star-shaped elementsare mounted to the table plate at the side of the carrousel position,wherein said rotating star-shaped elements may be of an electricallycoupled form. Said columns protect the motors against environmentalinfluences, thus increasing durability thereof.

According to one embodiment, means for mounting further components areprovided at the side facing away from the carrousel position of thetable plate, wherein a coupling of said components can be provided withan electric motor. Owing to such mounting of additional components, sameare protected e.g. against adhesives or liquids that may arise while themachine for treating containers is operated.

The motors may be servomotors.

According to yet another embodiment, means for mounting at least one ofthe wiring, control device, power supply, in particular emergency powersupply, pneumatics, lubricating system are provided at the side facingaway from the carrousel position of the table plate in the region facingthe rotating star-shaped element position. This allows for protection ofespecially sensitive components such as wirings against contact withliquids.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 schematically shows one embodiment of a machine for treatingcontainers;

FIGS. 2 a+b show diverse embodiments of the portal and the base support;

FIG. 3 shows a table plate according to one embodiment;

FIGS. 4 a-c show an assortment of table plates according to oneembodiment;

FIGS. 5 a-cshow an assortment of table plates according to anotherembodiment;

FIG. 6 shows a table plate according to one embodiment;

FIG. 7 shows a table plate with mounting elements according to oneembodiment;

FIGS. 8 a-d show mounting elements according to various embodiments;

FIG. 9 shows a laminated table plate according to one embodiment;

FIG. 10 shows a table plate with bores according to one embodiment;

FIG. 11 shows a table plate according to another embodiment;

FIG. 12 shows a table plate with additional mounting elements accordingto one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a machine for treating containers according to theinvention. This may be, for instance, either a labeling machine or ablow molding machine used to manufacture containers such as bottles. Itcomprises a portal 101 and a component 102 generally referred to asmodule for treating containers. The module for treating containers 102comprises at least a carrousel, here being shown just schematically, aswell as a base support 103 on which said carrousel is pivotallysupported. Portal 101 has an opening 150 for supplying containers to betreated to a carrousel of the module for treating containers 102 via,e.g. rotating star-shaped elements. The module for treating containersmay be, for instance, a labeling machine used for labeling containers.Opening 150 is restricted by components of portal 101. In particular, itis restricted at its sides by connecting parts 105, 105′. The upper sideof said bore is restricted by an upper part extending from oneconnecting part to the other connecting part 105, 105′. The lower sideof opening 150 is restricted by a support element 104 of said portal.Such restriction need not to be complete but may also showinterruptions. Support element 104 does not only serve to restrictopening 150 but also to support the portal at the ground of a factoryhall or the like. Advantageously, upper part 107 can be connected to themodule for treating containers 102, preferably to the carrousel, so asto allow for a carrousel torque support by means of upper part 107.

FIG. 2 a shows portal 101 and base support 103 separately. Portal andbase support 101 or 103 are provided in the form of modules. This meansthat they are preferably produced separately and can then be connectedwith one another by means of preferably releasable connections such asfittings. Both the portal 101 and the base support 103 are preferablyprovided with support elements 208 or 209 which serve to support andalign said components.

FIG. 2 b shows how the connection 210 between base support 103 andportal 101 can be realized. Although shown here in the form of bolts,such connection can also be realized by snaps, hooks or the like as longas they are designed in such a manner that they remain, once aligned, intheir aligned position so as to avoid any undesired misalignment orfalse positioning while the machine for treating containers is running.A connection via one of the table plates described further below is alsoconceivable.

Furthermore, one and the same portal 101 may always be used for anassortment of (various) modules for treating containers such as modulesfor labeling or blow-molding or for bottles or containers of differentsize. In particular, this means that portal or portals 101 among such anassortment are always of the same dimensions, even if the dimensions ofthe carrousel and of the base support 103 may vary among the assortment.To achieve this, portal 101 has a size adapted to the various carrouselsizes. In particular, this means that the portal is large enough foreach size of a base support 103 and a carrousel used in an assortment inorder to allow for supplying and discharging containers to be treated.

Moreover, the means for mounting base support 103 at support element 104of the portal may be such that corresponding means are provided for eachsize of base supports among the assortment. For instance, first mountingmeans may be provided for a first size of a base support 103 among theassortment, said means being fastened to the support element, and secondmeans may be provided for a second size of another base support 103 forbeing fastened to the support element 104 of said portal. Said first andsecond mounting means may be provided at different positions,respectively, so that they are adapted to the corresponding base support103. Alternatively, they may also be provided in the form of a guide towhich the corresponding mounting means are attached and which arebrought to the desired position according to the size of the basesupport.

FIG. 3 shows a table plate 300 according to the invention. Said tableplate 300 comprises a rotating star-shaped element region 301 with meansfor positioning and (pivotally) supporting at least one rotatingstar-shaped element. Said means 304 and 305 can be provided, e.g. in theform of openings or bores into which e.g. a shaft for driving a rotatingstar-shaped element can be inserted and the rotating star-shaped elementcan be mounted thereon. Further, table plate 300 comprises a carrouselregion 302 with a carrousel being arranged therein and pivotallysupported e.g. via a shaft and connected to the table plate. Said means303 may also be provided e.g. in the form of a bore or opening in saidtable plate.

Rotating star-shaped element region 301 and carrousel region 302 aredivided, for instance, via the dotted line. Even though furtherdivisions are conceivable this turns out to be appropriate. According tothe embodiment shown here, rotating star-shaped element region 301 hasthe form of a rectangle. However, any other form that might be adaptede.g. to specific machines for treating containers is also conceivable.Beyond, to design the carrousel region 302 in the form of a circularpart is also not inevitably required and can be altered in accordancewith the requirements regarding the machine for treating containerswhere the table plate are to be used.

In particular it is the intention, however, to make use of the tableplate or of an assortment of table plates in a variety of machines fortreating containers. Thus, given, standardized dimensions are being usedfor each table plate among the assortment of table plates, in order tofacilitate the manufacture thereof.

In this connection, FIGS. 4 a-c show table plates 300 to 300″ withvarious rotating star-shaped elements being used. Such rotatingstar-shaped elements may be characterized, for instance, by varioussizes or various required positions with regard to the carrousel towhich they shall supply or from which they shall discharge containers.To this, FIGS. 4 a-4 c show the rotating star-shaped elements and thecarrousel by means of sketched circles. The points of contact of saidcircles specify the transit point for the containers, respectively.Depending on said transit position, the mounting position of therotating star-shaped element in rotating star-shaped element region 301of table plates 300 to 300″ is, thus, determined.

FIG. 4 a illustrates a table plate 300 with a carrousel region 302 and arotating star-shaped element region 301. The openings shown here forreceiving the rotating star-shaped elements or the shafts 304 and 305driving same are arranged at specific positions and are spaced apartfrom each other via a distance a. Such distance results from theposition of the means for mounting carrousel 303, as shown in FIG. 3,and from the size of the carrousel itself and the size of the rotatingstar-shaped elements, as it holds that the distance between the rotationaxis of the carrousel and a rotating star-shaped element equals to atleast the sum of the radii of the carrousel and the rotating star-shapedelement.

FIG. 4 b illustrates another table plate 300′. For reasons of clarity,it comprises the same carrousel region 302 (which also implies that thecarrousel shall be of the same dimensions as in FIG. 4 a) as the tableplate shown in FIG. 4 a. However, in this case rotating star-shapedelements are used whose diameter varies from that one according to FIG.4 a so that bores 304′ and 305′ have to be positioned at differentplaces in order to provide appropriate transit points for containersfrom the rotating star-shaped elements to the carrousel and vice versa.Accordingly, the distance between bores 304′ and 305′ is a′. Yet, therotating star-shaped element region 301 in FIG. 4 b has the same outerdimensions as in FIG. 4 a.

FIG. 4 c illustrates a table plate 300″ into which even still largerrotating star-shaped elements are to be introduced so that the distancebetween bores 304″ and 305″ is a″ which is even larger than distance a′.Here, too, the outer dimensions of rotating star-shaped element region301 are, yet, the same.

As displacing of bores during the manufacture of table plates can betechnically realized in a relatively simple manner, manufacture becomesmuch easier, since such plates can be used as table plates for theintended assortment which are always of the same outer dimension of therotating star-shaped element. If, beyond, the size of the carrousel thatis to be used in the assortment of machines for treating containers isalways the same, the outer form of the table plate will remain identicalamong the entire assortment and just the positions of the bores or meansfor mounting rotating star-shaped elements 304 and 305 have to bevaried.

FIGS. 5 a-c show another possibility to modify table plate 300 shown inFIG. 3. To this, an assortment of table plates is provided that shallsuit to carrousels of different size. According to FIG. 5 a, rotatingstar-shaped element region 301 with dotted restriction is provided, anda carrousel region 302 for the carrousel to be mounted thereon viaelement 300. Preferably, the size and the form of the carrousel regionare adapted to the carrousel. For reasons of simplicity, the distancebetween the element for mounting carrousel 303 and rotating star-shapedelement region 301, here indicated by b, is taken as the characteristicvalue for the following considerations. Since in case of a given size ofa rotating star-shaped element approved as constant value for thefollowing statements the same condition as already described with regardto FIG. 4 has to be met, distance b is, indeed, a characteristic value.

FIG. 5 b illustrates another table plate 300′ for mounting anothercarrousel. Said carrousel can, for instance, be smaller than that onedescribed in FIG. 5 a. Assuming that the mounting element 303′ formounting the carrousel is here also centrally arranged in the carrouselregion 302′, there is a distance b′ between mounting element 303′ androtating star-shaped element region 301 which is smaller than that oneshown in FIG. 5 a, to ensure the presence of a container transit point.Yet, table plate 300′ has the same rotating star-shaped element region301 as shown in FIG. 5 a.

FIG. 5 c illustrates a table plate 300″ also comprising a rotatingstar-shaped element region 301 of the same dimensions as in the previousFigures. It is, however, designed to a larger carrousel and requires,thus, a larger carrousel region 302″ with a centrally arranged element303″ for mounting a carrousel. The distance between said element 303″and rotating star-shaped element region 301 is, thus, b″ and is largerthan distances b and b′ according to FIGS. 5 a and 5 b.

In summary it can be stated that the invention enables to manufacture anassortment of table plates that can be divided into a rotatingstar-shaped element region and a carrousel region. To this, as shown inFIGS. 4 a-c and 5 a-c, the rotating star-shaped element region is alwaysof the same outer dimensions among the entire assortment. Depending onspecific requirements or the size of a carrousel to be mounted thereon,the carrousel region may take different sizes. However, the constantdimensions of the rotating star-shaped element region render theproduction process much easier. It is easier to provide differentlypositioned elements for mounting the rotating star-shaped elements independency of the size of said rotating star-shaped elements and of thecarrousels in terms of manufacture than custom-made table plates foreach conceivable constellation of carrousel sizes and rotatingstar-shaped element sizes.

FIG. 6 illustrates yet another advantage of correspondingly sized tableplates. For instance, table plate 600 can be used to establish aconnection between a base support 602 to which a carrousel can bemounted and a portal used to convey containers by means of the rotatingstar-shaped elements to be attached at the table plate. Said portal 601and said base support 602 may, for instance, be those componentsreferred to in FIG. 1. Since, as described with regard to FIG. 4, therotating star-shaped element region shall always be of the samedimensions among the entire assortment of machines for treatingcontainers, it can be fit into a standard portal, as described in FIG.1, that is always of the same dimension for a corresponding assortmentof machines for treating containers and allows for a correspondingpositioning of rotating star-shaped elements. Since, on the other hand,the size of the carrousel region 602 is adapted to the size of thecarrousel, table plate 600 may always allow for an accurately fitting ofthe carrousel on base support 602 with regard to portal 601 so thatadditional elaborate aligning steps can be reduced.

FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of a table plate 700 according tothe invention. It comprises at least one mounting arrangement 701 where,preferably around the entire circumference or in the region of themounting arrangement shown here in C-shape, treating units or otherdevices can be mounted. These might be, for example, labeling units thatcan be provided at the periphery of table plate 700. Furthermore, tableplate 700 comprises elements for mounting e.g. rotating star-shapedelements and/or a carrousel, as described in the preceding Figures.

FIGS. 8 a-d illustrate possible embodiments of the mountingarrangements.

According to FIG. 8 a, mounting arrangement 701 and table plate 700 arean integrally formed work piece. To this, the shape of mountingarrangement 701 can be milled out from a solid work piece used tomanufacture the table plate. Thus, the mounting arrangement could bestabilized considerably and also the positioning of treating units canbe done always equally without adjustments or fine-alignments beingrequired.

FIG. 8 b illustrates an alternative embodiment of the mountingarrangement. According to said embodiment, one or several ring-shapedelements 811 and 812 are mounted to table plate 700, e.g. by screwconnections 813. It is very easy to manufacture such ring-shapedelements which allow for a variable adaptation of the mountingarrangement for special purposes. In particular, the individualring-shaped elements may have various shapes, thus enabling, forinstance, that only specific treating units can be mounted to the tableplate. Then, the mounting arrangement will take the function of alock-and-key-principle, together with the treating element to be mountedthereto.

FIG. 8 c illustrates an alternative embodiment of mounting arrangement701. To this, an inclination 802 or notch is additionally providedwhich, according to the example as shown, is formed by pointing awayfrom an imaginary axis V of a carrousel to be mounted at the tableplate. It may also be provided such that it points towards said axis V,the advantage being in that treating elements are guided through thenotch into the mounting arrangement. Thus, treating elements can beintroduced and mounted in an utmost trouble-free manner, in particularwithout getting tilted. Even though the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 cincluding a notch is here just shown for an integral workpiececonsisting of the mounting arrangement and the table plate, it may alsobe realized by means of the ring-shaped components forming the mountingarrangement being described with regard to FIG. 8 b. Preferably, one ofthe ring-shaped components will then be provided with such a notch.

FIG. 8 d illustrates yet another alternative embodiment of mountingarrangement 701. In this case, there is not only provided the mountingarrangement as already shown but also another mounting arrangement 814opposite thereto, so that a treating unit or similar components can bemounted from two sides, thus further increasing the stability. Saidsecond mounting arrangement 814 can be realized either by ring-shapedcomponents located further inward or by correspondingly milling a solidwork piece which is to be shaped so that it forms a table plate withmounting arrangement. Also conceivable are combinations, wherein e.g.the mounting arrangement given reference number 701 in FIG. 8 d isformed by milling and the second mounting arrangement 814 is formed byring-shaped components, or vice versa.

In principle, the form of the mounting arrangement is flexible. Butpreferably, it will be realized in the form of a circle entirelyextending along the circumference of the table plate, or in a C-shape asshown in FIG. 7. It is also conceivable to provide a variety of mountingarrangements at an imaginary circle along the circumference, which arespaced apart from each other so that treating units can be mounted onlyat specific locations. In such a case it may also be advantageous todesign the mounting arrangements so as to be suitable only for aspecific treating unit, respectively, e.g. by a specific form or lengthof the mounting arrangement.

FIG. 9 illustrates yet another table plate according to the invention.FIG. 9 a shows an exterior view and FIG. 9 b shows a cross-sectionalview through table plate 900. According to FIG. 9 a, table plate 900preferably comprises bores 910 and 911 into which shafts or mountingsfor rotating star-shaped elements (bores 910) and, if required, acarrousel (bore 911) can be inserted. To this end, table plate 900 isprovided with a lamination preferably extending across the entire tableplate but which can also be provided only at specific locations. Saidlamination may include specific advantageous properties. For instance,it may be of the kind that is easy to clean or dirt-resistant (lotuseffect). It may also have bulges or bulbs that prevent labels fromadhering. Moreover, said lamination may also be a multilayer, with eachlayer being adapted to specific requirements or including specificproperties.

FIG. 9 b illustrates a cross-section of table plate 900. Table plate 900is preferably made of a one-piece solid core 902 consisting e.g. ofstainless steel or a different material. Said core is surrounded by acoating or lamination 901. Said coating can be made of plastic material,for instance, and can be applied, i.a. to the core material within thecourse of an injection-molding process. The bores illustrated in FIG. 9a may be formed in said table plate either before or after thelamination process of the core material 902. Preferably, the corematerial has a thickness of 2 mm up to 1 cm. The lamination may alsorange from some few mm up to a larger number of cm.

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of table plate 900, with the boresbeing restricted by ring-shaped elements 920. Said elements 920 areinserted into the bores and preferably have the profile as shown so thatthey extend along the upper side and the lower side of the table plateshown here across a region of the lamination. As such components likeshafts or the like are introduced into bores 910 and 911 in order to fixspecific units, it may turn out advantageous when the ring-shapedcomponent is made of a solid material, e.g. stainless steel and has, atthe same time, a specific form which allows, for instance, introducingshafts in just one specific orientation. Thus, construction errors canbe avoided. Although the ring-shaped component 920 is here shown as aseparate component that will be inserted into the boring afterlamination has taken place, said ring-shaped component may also beprovided in the form of a bulge or protrusion of core material 902 ofFIG. 9. The lamination would then, indeed, reach up to such bulge, thecore material, however, would remain exposed in this region. In such acase it is advantageous when the core material is stainless steel. But,if the core material is entirely enclosed by such lamination it mayconsist of more affordable materials such as aluminum or non-stainlesssteel. Furthermore, it may be advantageous when table plates are alwaysmanufactured with bores of the same size and any adaptation for anassortment which uses, e.g. shafts of different thicknesses is done bymeans of various ring-shaped components.

FIG. 11 illustrates another embodiment of a table plate 1100 accordingto the invention. In addition to any bores for mounting rotating starsand a carrousel, said table plate is provided with columns 1101 and 1102where motors for driving e.g. the rotating star-shaped elements can beaccommodated. Apart from said columns, line ducts may also be providedsuited for accommodating, for instance, power cables or electricalconnections. Thus, protection of said sensitive components againstenvironmental influences has been achieved.

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of said table plate from below,wherein due to the space-savings achieved by positioning motors incolumns at the upper side, the lower side offers space for accommodatingfurther devices (1210, 1211, 1212, 1213) such as power supplies or linesand pneumatics. To design the table plate in this form allows for acoupling of the rotating parts such as rotating star-shaped elements bymeans of electrical means, i.e. just by means of cable connections,without shafts for transmitting the torque being required, thusrendering the entire arrangement considerably lighter and less prone tofailure. Due to the space-savings, the lower side may also be providedwith power supplies and lubricating systems. Thus, a considerably morecompact structure could be achieved.

What is claimed is: 1-37. (canceled)
 38. A table plate for a machine fortreating containers, particularly a labeling machine, said table platecomprising a carrousel portion where a carrousel can be positioned andpivotally connected to the table plate; said table plate comprising arotating star-shaped element region where at least one rotatingstar-shaped element for supplying or discharging containers to or fromthe carrousel can be arranged and pivotally connected to the tableplate; said table plate being formed as a solid and one-piece workpiece.
 39. The table plate according to claim 38, the table platecomprising a motor region where motors can be arranged at least one ofin columns provided on the table plate or at least one of inside oroutside at the side of the carrousel position of the table plate. 40.The table plate according to claim 38, the carrousel and a portalthrough which containers can either be supplied to or be discharged fromthe carrousel can be connected with one another via the table plate. 41.The table plate according to claim 38, and elements for guiding andfastening electrical and mechanical systems are provided at the side ofthe table plates facing away from the carrousel.
 42. An assortment oftable plates according to claim 38 for an assortment of machines fortreating containers, outer dimensions of the rotating star-shapedelement region for each of said machines for treating containers amongthe assortment of machines for treating containers being identical, anda distance of receptacles in a table plate for a rotary wheel of aninlet star and a rotary wheel of an outlet star in said rotatingstar-shaped element region where the rotating star-shaped elements canbe pivotally supported for machines for treating containers among theassortment of machines for treating containers differ from each other.43. The assortment of table plates according to claim 38, outerdimensions of the carrousel region of at least two table plates amongthe assortment differ from each other, and a position in which a mainaxis of the carrousel can be arranged and pivotally supported in saidcarrousel portion of at least two table plates of the assortment show adifferent distance from the rotating star-shaped element region.
 44. Atable plate for a machine for treating containers, which comprises acarousel, wherein at least said carousel can be mounted to the tableplate, said table plate comprising a mounting arrangement supported bysaid table plate and to which treating units can be mounted at a sidefacing away from a carrousel position.
 45. The table plate according toclaim 44, wherein at least one of: the mounting arrangement comprises atleast two, a first and a second, ring-shaped elements arranged one uponthe other concentrically with regard to a rotation axis of the carrouseland towards the rotation axis of the carrousel, the first ring-shapedelement being connected to the table plate via a connection, themounting arrangement consists of an ring-shaped element or includessame; or the first ring-shaped element has one of a larger innerdiameter than the second ring-shaped element or a smaller outer diameterthan the second ring-shaped element.
 46. The table plate according toclaim 44, wherein at least one of: the mounting arrangement and thetable plate are integrally formed and made from one work piece; mountingarrangement is formed in at least one of a C-shape or a groove; or atleast one of the mounting arrangement comprises notches convergingtowards the rotation axis of the carrousel in table plate direction, orthe mounting arrangement comprises notches diverging from the rotationaxis in table plate direction.
 47. A table plate for a machine fortreating containers, which comprises a carousel to be arranged at thetable plate, the table plate including a laminated core material. 48.The table plate according to claim 47, wherein at least one of: the corematerial including one of stainless steel, non-stainless steel, oraluminum; or the lamination is made of or includes a plastic material.49. The table plate according to claim 47, the table plate provided witha bore designed to mount machine parts, wherein a ring-shaped componentis inserted into said bore.
 50. The table plate according to claim 49,the ring-shaped component being at least partially made of stainlesssteel.
 51. The table plate according to claim 47, the table plate beingat least one of the following: dirt-resistant, color-resistant,flexible, provided with bulges, or non-sticky.
 52. A table plate for amachine for treating containers, which comprises a carousel to bearranged at the table plate, wherein containers to be treated can eitherbe conveyed to or from to the carrousel by means of rotating star-shapedelements to be arranged at the table plate, the columns, in which spacefor motors for driving the rotating star-shaped elements is provided,are mounted to the table plate at the side of the carrousel position,wherein said rotating star-shaped elements are of an electricallycoupled form.
 53. The table plate according to claim 52, means formounting further components are provided at the side facing away fromthe carrousel position of the table plate, wherein a coupling of saidcomponents can be provided with an electric motor.
 54. The table plateaccording to claim 52, the motors being servomotors.
 55. The table plateaccording to claim 52, means for mounting at least one of the wiring,control device, power supply, pneumatics, lubricating system areprovided at the side facing away from the carrousel position of thetable plate.